Battle Station tracks pace to score upset in Lucky Coin Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Kendrick Carmouche had ridden Battle Station to victory in the first two starts of the horse’s career. That was in 2017.
Remarkably, Carmouche hadn’t been on him since – until Sunday.
Carmouche kept his perfect record aboard Battle Station intact, guiding him to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $85,000 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga.
“He don’t forget the hands, he knows the voice,” Carmouche quipped afterward.
Carmouche, who typically likes to put his horses on the lead, let Battle Station sit third, behind dueling leaders Readyforprimetime and Pulsate, who were a half-length apart through a quarter in 21.97 seconds and a half-mile in 44.71.
Carmouche tipped Battle Station into the clear in upper stretch, and he glided away in the final sixteenth of a mile to beat Pulsate by 1 1/4 lengths. It was a nose back to Readyforprimetime in third.
“I was thinking about going, but the other two horses wanted it more than me,” Carmouche said. “I know the horse like the back of my hand. He broke so sharp and once those two took the lead I dropped my hands. From there, I just had to work my way out to win the race.”
Battle Station, a gelding by Warrior’s Reward, was running back just nine days after he finished fifth in an optional-claiming race. Trainer Rob Atras said that Ricardo Santana Jr., who rode him that day, felt Battle Station should have won that race.
Atras liked the way Battle Station bounced out of the race and, after discussing the options with owner Bob Bone, decided to wheel him back.
“I already had him nominated, they thought it was going to be a short field, which it wasn’t, but he trained really good,” Atras said. “Bob Bone said let’s give it a shot.”
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Atras said he grew even more confident after giving Carmouche a leg up.
“He told me this is my boy, I know this horse,” Atras said. “He said at every pole I knew he was going to win. I’m glad he did, I didn’t.”
Battle Station covered the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.70 and returned $42.40 as the longest shot on the board in the seven-horse field.